29 March 2008: Tengboche Monastery...

This morning at Khumjung we awoke to a light dusting of snow on the ground. After breakfast we began our hike to Tengboche. The first half of the hike was downhill to the Dudh Koshi. Koshi is Nepali for river4. We dropped down many stone steps through pine forest and rhododendrons. We stopped for drinks on the west side of the river across from Phunki Drengka.

Chet and I did our best to explain to our Sherpa’s the likeness of the town name to funky. I’m not sure we got our point across, but they were entertained when we did our version of the funky chicken as we walked into the village.

The bridge across the Dudh Kosi had been washed out last year, so a temporary wooden bridge has replaced it. A huge rock on the west bank that had supported the previous bridge had slid down to the river. The collapsed bridge lay in the river below the temporary bridge.

After crossing the river and doing our chicken walk in Phunki Drengka we started the uphill climb to Tengboche (3250 meters up to 3867 meters). Fortunately most of the hike was in the shade of pine trees and rhododendrons. It was also well graded with many switchbacks. Throughout the days hike we had the peaks of Ama Dablam (6814 meters), Malanphulan (6523) meters and of course Lhotse and Everest in the distance.

At Tengboche we stopped to have lunch. We planned to stay for the night, but a large trekking group had the lodges filled up. After lunch we visited the famous Tengboche Monastery. Although rebuilt after burning down in 1989, it is beautiful. Intricate painted arches outside and wall paintings inside. Many donations succeeded in rebuilding it fairly quickly after the fire.

Since there was no room at Tengboche we walked down to Debuche at 3770 meters. Here we found rooms at the Ama Dablam Garden Lodge, restaurant and Bar.